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Tag: All Progressive Grand Alliance

  • Election Tribunal receives 12 petitions in Nasarawa – Official

    The National and State Houses of Assembly Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Lafia has received 12 petitions from different candidates in Nasarawa State.

    Mr Bello Mukhtar, Secretary of the tribunal, made the disclosure to newsmen in Lafia on Tuesday.

    He said the candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) filed five petitions, All Progressives Congress (APC) filed two petitions and the Peoples Democratic Movement (PDM) filed three petitions.

    He said the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) and the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) each filed one petition.

    Read Also: Suspected herdsmen sack 2 communities, raze 27 houses in Nasarawa

    Mukhtar stated that the tribunal was still expecting petition from the re-run elections that were conducted on March 23.

    News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that PDP is challenging the three senatorial seats, Lafia/Obi and Awe/Doma/Keana Federal Constituencies, while APC was challenging Akwanga/Nassarawa-Eggon/Wamba Federal Constituencies.

    PDM is challenging Nasarawa South and Northern Senatorial seats, Akwanga/Nasarawa-Eggon/Wamba Federal Constituencies.

    ZLP and APGA are challenging Awe/Doma/Keana Federal Constituencies and Nasarawa West Senatorial seats respectively.

  • APGA: Buhari’s policies will stabilise economy

    The All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) yesterday scored President Muhammadu Buhari high on his economic policies.

    The party said  Nigerians with the result of Buhari’s economic initiatives will soon begin to enjoy stable economy and better living standard.

    Briefing reporters in Abuja,  APGA Chairman Victor Oye, said Nigerians should give moral and spiritual support to the President by praying for him, adding that he deserves complete eight years as provided for by the Constitution.

    Oye lamented that some Nigerians spend their time criticising the President, warning that politics is not a do or die affairs, just as he pointed out that desperate politics is why there is always political violence during elections.

    He urged Nigerians to learn how to cooperate with those in leadership position, saying it is by this understanding that the unity and peace of the country can be promoted irrespective of race and religion.

    The party chairman emphasised the need for Nigerians to offer valuable advice to the President to enable him succeed in office.

    Commenting on the 2019 general elections, Oye said the party believes that the election was generally free, fair and credible, noting that even the international community adjudged the process as such.

    He said the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was not given such benefit of the doubts by Nigerians to conduct a credible general elections.

    Read also: Buhari moves to prevent National Assembly hijack

    “We have our own misgivings, but in our own thinking, the outcome of the election was fair. Nobody gave INEC the chance to perform the little it has done. INEC showed immeasurable courage by ensuring that the elections went the way they did, especially the Presidential elections. In our own estimation, the election was free and fair and APGA is happy with the outcome of that elections”, he said.

    Responding to the loss of the three Senatorial seats to other party , Oye said the party is growing in leaps and bounds, having won six House of Assembly seats in Imo State, 24  of 30 seats in Anambra State House of Assembly, five seats in the House of Representatives in Anambra.

  • Abia: APGA candidate demands cancellation of Obingwa LG results

    Senatorial candidate of the All Progressive Grand Alliance, APGA, in Abia South zone, Chief Chris Nkwonta, has called for the cancellation of results of the just concluded National Assembly election for Abia South senatorial election over alleged irregularities.

    Addressing a press conference in Aba, Nkwonta said there was widespread irregularities across the 11 wards of the local government, stressing that what held in Obingwa LGA could best be described as allocation of votes.

    He stated that reports from his agents indicated that there were snatching of ballot boxes, massive rigging at the ward and local government collation centres.

    Urging INEC to conduct fresh polls in the area, Nkwonta also alleged that there were irregularities in some wards in Ukwa West and Ugwunagbo local government areas respectively.

    “There was no election in Obingwa LGA. What took place was snatching of ballot boxes, intimidation of APGA agents and massive inflation of figures by the PDP. There are several cases of over voting. In Unit 002, Ward 11 the number of accredited voters was 78 while the votes cast is 103. In Unit 006, Ward 11, the number of accredited voters was 70 while votes cast were 270.  In the same Ward 11, there were cases of missing results in Units 003 and 015, but they still manufactured votes in favour of the PDP without result sheet.

    Read Also: PDP members join APGA in Anambra

    “In most wards, total votes cast were more than the number of voters accredited for the election. In ward 7, results sheets were mutilated beyond recognition. In wards 004 and 009, correction fluid was used to mutilate result sheets. It is common knowledge that correction fluids are not used in official documents, as this invalidates such document.

    “In ward 5, Unit 004, the ballot box was snatched and recovered by security agents. The results from wards 7 and 4 took more than 24 hours to be brought to the Obingwa LGA collation centre because the PDP  waited to know the total votes cast from the other 5 LGAs for them to manipulate to win.

    “In an election that was characterized by low turnout, my opponent, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe is claiming bogus figures. This is untenable. So, what took place in Obingwa can only be described as allocation of votes. I demand the cancellation of the Abia South senatorial poll in Obingwa LGA because it was marred by irregularities. INEC should do the needful.”

    Nkwonta insisted that he would defeat Abaribe in a free and fair poll, stressing that the senator has failed to attract democracy dividends to the zone in his 12 year stint at the Senate.

  • Aspirant pledges to revamp ailing industries

    The Senatorial candidate of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) for Abia South, Chief Chris Nkwonta said his party has concluded plans to revive the Abia Palm plantation, Ohambele and Ogwe Poultry Farm, to create jobs for the people, if it wins next month’s election.

    Nkwonta lamented that the objectives of establishing the poultry farm and palm plantation in Ukwa West and Ukwa East council areas, respectively,  are yet to be fully realised as they have been allowed to waste while the people suffer unemployment.

    The APGA chieftain, who stated this at Obehie, Ukwa West council, explained that when revived, the palm plantation and the poultry farm can employ over 7,000 youths to put food on the table of most families in the areas.

    He revealed that he has acquired land at Obehie to build an oil mill where products from the Abia Palm would be processed to create more employment and generate income for the state.

    Nkwonta insisted that Ukwa land has not benefitted from government policies despite being an oil-producing area. He assured that APGA  will make the people feel the positive impact of producing oil through the provision of good roads, electricity, modern health facilities and potable water.

    “We have concluded plans to revive the Abia Palm Plantation at Ohambele and the Ogwe Poultry Farm, Ogwe. The two establishments which can create over 7,000 jobs have been lying waste while our people suffer from unemployment and hunger. If APGA wins the election, we will revive them to create jobs for the people and generate income for the state.

    “We have acquired land at former TAP Company to build a palm oil processing mill to develop Ukwa land. Ukwa is an oil-producing zone, Abia is an oil-producing state because of Ukwa land, yet Ukwa people have nothing to show for it. When we win, we will make the people feel the positive impact of producing oil. APGA will provide modern health facilities, good roads, electricity and jobs,” he said.

  • Ebonyi SSG, Prof Odoh resigns

    Secretary to Government of Ebonyi State, Professor Benard Odoh has resigned his appointment citing lack of a condusive environment to carry out his duties as his reason for doing so.

    Odoh, was the All Progressive Grand Alliance senatorial candidate in the 2015 general election which he lost to Senator Obinna Ogba of the People’s Democratic Party.

    He was appointed SSG by Governor David Umahi, the governor’s first appointment, right at the stadium after the governor’s inauguration.

    In a letter of his resignation, brained by The Nation, the former state scribe literally said he took his decision so as to protect his relationship with the governor, David Umahi.

    He stressed that he has more to preserve than occupy the position of the secretary to state government.

    Odoh said that in the past two years, he and other members of the State Executive Council haves not been offered conducive atmosphere to sincerely air and express their views on sensitive policy matters.

    He said: “in my opinion, this is the highest level of hypocrisy and the values I live does not allow me to operate in such deceptive atmosphere where people live opposite of what/who they are”.

    “Having assured you on my inception of office and at several times that I owe you the responsibility to be truthful and honest always, I wish to inform you that all is not well in your administration sir. If you observe carefully, almost all your appointees are nearly completely disconnected from your policy direction as they lack genuine sense of purpose, dignity, clear sense of commitment to decision taken in Council because of low morale”.

    “Once more on behalf of my family, friends and those who worked closely with me for almost three years now, I want to most sincerely again say thank you very much for the rare opportunity you offered me to serve our dear state”.

    “My appointment as the Secretary to the State government is hereby resigned in good faith. I have handed over the status of cabinet office to the most senior staff office, Barrister Ogbonnaya Otta in line with the best practices of service”.

    The Former SSG further commended the wife of the state governor, Rachel and the entire Umahi’s dynasty for the opportunity and loves to serve the state government.

    Prof Odoh before his appointment was a lecturer at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka.

  • Umeh wins Anambra Central Rerun election

    Umeh wins Anambra Central Rerun election

    Chief Victor Umeh of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) has won the Anambra Central Senatiorial rerun election.

    The election took place in seven local government areas  of Anambra: Njikoka, Awka North, Idemili South, Dunukofia, Awka South, Anaocha and Idemili North.

    APGA won in the seven council areas in the result announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission(INEC) early Sunday morning.

    The result showed that in Njikoka, APGA got 11, 506 votes while All Progressive Congress (APC) got 158.

    In Awka North, APGA and APC scored 7,572 and 81 votes respectively while in Idemili South, APGA garnered 4,647 votes against APC’s 104 votes.

    Also in Dunukofia APGA scored 7, 307 votes while the APC got 124.

    APGA also swept Awka South with 12,384 votes against its closest rival APC which got 231 votes, while in Anaocha council area, APGA and APC got 12, 245 votes and 120 votes respectively.

    In Idemili North, APGA won with 9,218 votes.

    Announcing the result, Prof. Charles Esimone, the Returning Officer, said Umeh having scored the highest number of votes with 64, 878, was the winner of the contest and returned elected.

    Esimone, who is Deputy Vice Chancellor Academic, Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka, said the number of registered voters in the seven local government areas were 745, 828 out of which 67, 872 were accredited.

    “I,  Prof. Charles Esimone certify that I am the Returning Officer for the Anambra Central Senatiorial rerun election.

    “I hereby declare that Chief Victor Umeh, having satisfied the conditions of the election and scored the highest number of votes, is declared winner and returned elected,” he said.

    The APC, with Sen. Chris Ngige as candidate, was second with 975 votes while Progressive Peoples Alliance (PPA) came third with 116 votes.

    Other parties that got votes were the Mega Progressive Peoples Party (MPPP), 111 votes; Labour Party (LP), 95; National Conscience Party (NCP), 72; Alliance for Democratic Congress (ADC), 57; United Progressives Party (UPP), 55; Green Party of Nigeria (GPN), 48 and Action Congress for Democrats (ACD), 33.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that votes were cancelled in four polling units in Awka South where there were cases of over voting and in Agulu, Anaocha council where people where accredited manually.

    Also in Idemili South, over voting was recorded in two units.

    Earlier, Dr Nkwachukwu Orji, Resident Electoral Commissioner of INEC in Anambra, thanked all stakeholders including the electorate, poll officials, observers and journalists for contributing to the success and peaceful conduct of the election.(NAN)

  • Maku urges Nasarawa Govt to revive cultural festivals

    Maku urges Nasarawa Govt to revive cultural festivals

    Former Minister of Information, Mr Labaran  Maku, on Tuesday urged the Nasarawa State Government to revive the cultural festivals in the state in order to promote peace among the communities.

    Maku, a 2015 governorship candidate of All Progressive Grand Alliance ( APGA ) in the state, made the call while speaking with newsmen in Wakama in Akun Development Area of the state.

    According to him, the promotion of cultural festivals of the various tribes in the state would promote peace and boost the state’s internally generated revenue.

    The former minister urged the state government to emulate Egypt in developing its tourism sector.

    Read also: Maku urges restoration of Customary Court of Appeal

    “Egypt is getting more money from the tourism sector than it gets from oil. So let us promote our cultural festivals.

    “Cultural festivals among the various ethnic groups will promote unity. Peace is the necessary requirement for the development of any society. Peace is priceless and non-negotiable.

    “Cultural festival will generate huge income for the state, considering our closeness to Abuja. People will come, watch and spent money during the events if properly organised,” he said.

    Maku, however, promised to revive the state cultural festival if elected into power in 2019.

    The former minister also renewed call for the restoration of the state’s Customary Court of Appeal in order to resolve many traditional issues in the state.

    NAN

  • LG Polls: Aspirants canvass for local government autonomy

    LG Polls: Aspirants canvass for local government autonomy

    Political aspirants for the Chairmanship and Councillorship election which is slated for coming Saturday in Lagos State has made case for
    local government autonomy as panacea to the backwardness being experienced at the grassroots level across the state. Speaking today at the Political debate organised for the Chairmanship/Councillorship Candidates contesting in Lagos, the Chairmanship Candidate for All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) representing Amuwo Odofin local government Area, Honourable Chinedu Nwoye pointed out that while the incumbent governor of the state concentrate on developing the state capitals and some key local governments, other councils do suffer underdevelopment but if local
    government enjoys autonomy, those at the grassroots would be able to enjoy dividends of democracy to the fullest.
    The event which was held at Airport Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos was organised by Transition Monitoring Group (TMG), Women Advocates Research and
    Documentation Centre (WARDC), Enough Is Enough (EIE) and the media. The Chairmanship candidate for Ikeja, local government Accord Party,
    Busola Olorundipe said that for local government autonomy to be credible it should be enshrined in the constitution for proper
    implementation.
    The aspirants while presenting their manifestoes, Hon. Nwoye, a Trainer and a Consultant intend empowering youths and women in the area as well as rehabilitation programmes, among others. For this to be achievable, Nwoye intends partnering with the all the corporate
    organizations in the area.
    According to Olorundipe, there are lots of factors working against women in politics some of which are; imposition of candidates by party leaders, violence is still synonymous with our politics, financial constraint is another factor scaring women away from participating in politics. If elected into office, she promised to operate an open-door policy irrespective of political affiliation as she will be reachable.
    Speaking on what the programme is aimed at, the Chairperson, Transition Monitoring Group (TMG) and the organizer of the event, Dr.
    Abiola Akiode-Afolabi, in her welcome address, said it is aimed at giving the electorates information that allows them to exercise their
    political choice. “The debate is to enable each individual to crystallize his or her autonomous opinion in the decision making process and to help promote credible and legitimate elections that are conducted in accordance
    with international standards”, said Afolabi.
    Other candidates at the event include Hon Akeem Olayemi Apena, of Accord Party representing Onigbongbo local council development area, Hon. Sunday Sodolamu representing Ojodu LCDA, among others.
  • Edo polls: ‘Why election cannot hold on September 28’

    Edo polls: ‘Why election cannot hold on September 28’

    The All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) has said he would petition the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on why the governorship election fixed for September 28 must be postponed again.

    It said the governorship polls must be organized to accommodate candidates in the 2016 November/December West African Senior School Certificate Examinations in the state.

    Governorship candidate of APGA, Mr. Osaro Onaiwu, said the September 28 date was not feasible because some students were expected to write Physics practical, Food Nutrition 1 and 2 papers and two other papers on that day.

    Onaiwu noted that the clash of dates would disenfranchise the students and also prevent them from voting for his party.

    He said that there “nothing wrong” in shifting the election further to October 1.

    The former Director General of the Governors Forum‎ said the earlier postponed election was necessary in order to secure the future of the youth and promote education.

    Onaiwu said: “On Wednesday 28, there is Physics. After the holidays, I think I am going to do a letter to WAEC and INEC, alerting them that (September) 28 is not convenient. We must accommodate those people writing exams.

    “They should take it (exam) to October 1. There is nothing wrong if we do the election on Independence Day, as long as we must have a governor that would be sworn in on November 12.”

  • APGA condemns Ebonyi new tax policy

    The All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) on Friday condemned the new tax policies introduced recently by the Ebonyi State government.

    The new tax policies,  according ton the party, could lead to collapse of the state’s economy.

    APGA Deputy National Secretary,  Comrade Jerry Obasi, said this in Abakaliki, the state capital.

    He also condemned the government’s demolition of some shops and attachments in the state, saying it was unwarranted because Ebonyi lacks infrastructural development.